Top Up Your Loft Insulation to Achieve the Recommended 270mm Depth

Loft insulation depth is a great way to save energy in the home by preventing heat from escaping. It’s a cheap and relatively easy DIY job, but the thickness of the insulation is what really matters in terms of energy efficiency.

Building regulations recommend that blanket type insulation should be a minimum of 270mm, although this doesn’t necessarily apply to existing homes. It may be, however, worth topping up existing loft insulation to achieve this level if you want to feel the benefits of a warmer and less energy-consuming property.

When you decide to top up your loft insulation it’s important to know that there are a few different types of insulation available. The most common type is mineral wool which comes in rolls or large tiles for easy fitting, or you could opt for a blown insulation such as vermiculite, which is particularly effective at insulating the roof space. It’s also non-flammable and immune to moulding, but is more expensive and may require chemical treatment to keep pests away.

From Fiberglass to Foam: Exploring the Pros and Cons of Different Loft Insulation Types

It’s important to check the thickness of any existing loft insulation you have before buying more, as it is often quite thin and not likely to be effective. Then you can calculate how much additional insulation you need to buy in order to meet the recommended 270mm depth. This can be done by measuring the length and width of the loft in metres, which will give you the area in square metres (m2). You can then use our handy table below to work out how many rolls of insulation you need.